Hat-forming machine.



No. 733,812. PATENTED JULY 14, 1903. G W. CHAMBERLAIN. HAT FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26. 1902 10 MODEL. 3 BHEBTSSHEET 1.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR W (fewemmierian ATTORNEYS.

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PATENNTED JULY 14, 1903.

G W CHAMBERLAIN HAT FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED snrr. 2a, 1902.

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No. 733,812. PATENTED JULY 14, 1903.

G. W. CHAMBERLAIN.

HAT FORMING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 26, 190,25

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' WITNESSES: INVENTOH y X Gazyel/fflmkr/azh ATTOHNE UNITED ST TES Patented July 14, 1903.

PAT NT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. CHAMBERLAIN, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

HAT-FORMING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 733,812, dated July 14:, 1903.

Application filed September 26, 1902. $erial No. 124,921. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. CHAMBER- LAIN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented a new and Improved Hat-Forming Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for forming shoddy or other felt hats, the object being to form the hats directly from a roll of material cut to the proper width instead of cutting the material into squares, as is the usual practice, thus simplifying the operation, reducing the waste, and saving a considerable amount of labor.

I will describe a hat-forming machine embodying my invention and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had tothe accompanying drawings,forminga part of this specification,

- in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hat-forming machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof. Fig. 3 is a section through the upper portion of the machine. Fig. 4 is a rear View drawn on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a front clamp employed. Fig. 6 is a section on the line m a", of Fig. 7, showing one of the side clamps employed. Fig. 7 is a plan View thereof, and Fig. 8 is a detail View thereof.

The frame of the machine comprises side members 1, extended upward from a base 2. Connected to the frame is a platform 3, on which is supported a table 4, upon which the lower member 5 of the die is placed. Theup-' per member 6 of the die is secured to a crossbar 7, adjusted on screw-rods S, which extend downward through openings in the top members of the frame-sections l and connect at the lower end with a cross-bar 9, from which a link 10 extends to a connection with a treadle 11. The cross-bar 9 also has a link connection 12 with a lever 13, pivoted to the frame, and to this lever 13 one endof a spring 14 is connected, the other end of the spring back of the machine are standards 16, slotted at the upper end to receive a bar 17, on which is placed a roll of hat material 18. Arranged between the die and the roll-supporting device is a stretching-clamp consisting of a yoke 19, pivoted to the platform 3, and adjustably arranged in this yoke 19 is a lower clampingbar 20, which may be adjusted along the side members of the yoke. This bar 20 is provided with a slot to receive a bar 21, attached to an upper clamping-bar 22. From this upper clamping-bar 22 a rod 23 extends upward through an opening in the cross-bar of the yoke 19, as clearly indicated in the drawings. a At the front side of the machine is a clamping device for holding the hat material. This clamping device consists of a lower jaw 24 and an upper jaw 25, pivoted thereto. The lower jaw 24 is connected to a screw-rod or standard 26, adjusted in a longitudinallyslotted plate27, attached to the table 4.- A.

link 28,connected to thejaw 25,passes through an opening formed in the jaw 24 and connects with a draw-rod 29, whichis adjustably connected by means of a clamp 30 to one end of a spring 31, the lower end of said spring 31 being connected to the foot-treadle 11. By this arrangement connection between the treadle'and movable jaw 25 of the clamp may be adjusted, as the clamp is adjusted for different heights of dies. When the treadle is released, it is desirable that the jaw 25 shall be moved to an open position to release the material. For this purpose I provide a spring 32, connected at one end to the jaw 24 and at the other end to the jaw 25, as clearly ingof a series of jaws 33 34, held yieldingly together by means of springs 35. The upper jaws 33 are provided with upwardly-extended curved fingers 36, which will engage with the sides of the die Whenthe die members are forced together, thus holding the material rigidly in place. The shanks of the upper jaws ,33 are engaged between wooden bars '37a'nd1netal plates 38, while the shanks of the lower jaws 34 are held between wooden bars 39 and metal plates 40. The shanks of the end jaws or clamps are connectedby means of rivets to the bars and plates; but

the intermediate jaws have their shanks movable between said bars and plates,so that they may conform to the shape of the hat, and the several jaws are held in place by a yielding rod 35, passed through the coils of the springs.

In operation the operator at the back of the machine will draw a section of the material 18 through the back clamping device or stretching'clamp and then pass the end over the lower die-section, and the attendant or operator at the front of the machine will pass the end of the material between the jaws of the front clamp 24, and then the side clamping devices are to be engaged with the side edges of the material at the opposite sides of the (lie. When the operator at the front of the machine forces the treadle l1 downward, the jaw will be engaged with the material, and the upper section of the die will of course be moved downward. The operator at the back of the machine'by manipulating the stretching-clamp will stretch the material to remove all creases in a transverse direction, while the side clamps by engaging with the sides of the die will remove all longitudinal creases of the material.

Before placing the material in the die it is sized and steamed in the usual manner, and while in the die the material is dried by heating the die by means of gas or otherwise.

' After forming one hat in the die and it still remains therein'for drying the side clamps are detached from the material in the die and connected to the material between the die and the stretching-clamp, so as to be in readiness for the next operation. The material is now to be cut around the die and a new length carried forward for the operation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a hat-forming machine, a frame, a die supported in the frame, a roll-support attached to the frame, and a stretching-clamp mounted to swing between the roll-support and die.

2. In a hat-forming machine, a frame, a die supported in the frame, a roll-support attached to the frame, a stretching-clamp arranged between the roll-support and die, and a clamping device arranged at the front side of the machine.

3. In a hat-forming machine, a frame, a die supported in the frame and comprising an upper and lower member, a treadle for moving the upper member in one direction, a roll-support at one side of the machine, a stretching-clamp arranged between the die and roll-support, a clamp at the opposite side of the machine, comprising a fixed jaw and a movable jaw, and a connection between said movable jaw and the treadle.

4:. In a hat-forming machine, a frame, a die supported in the frame, a roll-support at one side of the frame, a stretching-clamp arranged between the roll-support and the die, a clamping device at the opposite side of the machine, and side clamps.

5. In a hat-forming machine, a frame, a die supported therein, comprising two sections, the uppersection being movable, means for moving said upper section, a roll-support at one side of the machine, a yoke mounted to swing relatively to the frame, between the said support and die, a lower clamping-bar adjustable in the yoke and having an opening, an upper clamping-bar movable on the yoke and having a bar movable in the said opening, and a rod extended from the upper clamping-bar through the upper member of the yoke.

6. In a hat-forming machine, a frame, a die supported in the frame and comprising a lower stationary member and an upper movable member, a treadle for moving the upper member in one direction, a clamp comprising a fixed jaw, an adjustable support to which said fixed jaw is attached, an upper jaw for the clamp, mounted to swing on the lower jaw, a spring connection between the two jaws, and an adjustable connection between the upper jaw and the treadle.

7. In a hat-forming machine, a frame, a die supported in the frame and comprising a lower stationary member and an upper movable member, a treadle for moving the upper member in one direction, a clamp comprising a fixed jaw, an adjustable support to which said fixed jaw is attached, an upper jaw for theclamp, mounted to swing on the lower jaw, a spring connection between the two jaws, and an adjustable spring yielding connection between said upper jaw and the treadle.

8. In a hat-forming machine, a frame, a die supported in the frame, a roll-support at one side of the frame, a clamping device at the opposite side of the frame, a stretchingclamp arranged between the die and roll-support, and side clamps, each consisting of a series of jaws having shanks, portions of the shanks of the end jaws being secured between bars, while the shanks of the intermediate jaws are movable between said bars.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of .two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE W. CHAMBERLAIN. i tnesses:

CHAS. A. SIssoN, CHAS. E. SHORE, Jr. 

